Dan Lanning feels walk-on QB Matt Rush can help out Ducks in many ways

Dan Lanning says former Division III quarterback Matt Rush can help the Ducks as an experienced walk-on this season.

Walk-on quarterbacks are normally little more than an afterthought in college football. Only if there’s a dire situation going on do they ever end up seeing the field. In a more likely scenario, they play the role of the opposing quarterback for that week in practice to help prepare the defense for what is waiting for them on Saturday.

For new quarterback Matt Rush, though, there is some experience that he brings to the table. While his role hasn’t quite been defined yet, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning says that Rush will be an asset for the Ducks in 2023.

“There are times you find guys that are on campus that can help you and if there’s somebody (that) can enhance it from a number standpoint, we felt like we had room for another guy that can be out there to help us and that’s had some experience as a player,” Lanning said on Tuesday. “Matt has that.”

Rush, a senior transfer, is coming to Eugene via St. Louis where he played Division III football for Washington University. The 6-foot, 181-pounder from Illinois was a two-year starter for the Bears where he completed nearly 67 percent of his passes to go with 54 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions in 20 career games.

Rush is the fifth QB on Oregon’s roster, joining Bo Nix, Ty Thomspon, Austin Novosad, and fellow walk-on Marcus Sanders.

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